Chapter 179
The familiar costume pulled Su Bin’s memories back to the masquerade in his past life.
The sense of nervousness when Allen, dressed as a vampire, stared at him, the tension when he was pinned against the wall, the relief after learning the truth, and the pounding heart during their passionate kiss—each detail intertwined into a potent, burning ambiguity, filling the air between them as they locked eyes.
For a moment, Su Bin almost believed that some invisible force had destined them to be together.
Just as Allen had said—they were fated.
But just as Su Bin was lost in the moment, Allen suddenly shifted his gaze away.
Su Bin’s heart raced. He recalled the words of the user “Kongkong Xiaoyao” — the eye contact just now had lasted way longer than two seconds!
…Wait, maybe it was just his distraction, and the time seemed longer than it actually was?
But at least that brief moment of eye contact meant that, before Su Bin looked at him, Allen had already been watching him.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Su Bin took a sip of his drink, then cautiously glanced at Allen again… only to find him lazily leaning against the wall, seemingly waiting for Su Bin’s gaze.
As soon as their eyes met, Allen raised his glass toward him and even winked.
“…!” Su Bin felt a rush of electricity run through him, his body tingling. His heart pounded in his chest as he cursed under his breath, “Damn.”
…That was definitely a sign, right?
Nervously, Su Bin downed two more glasses to bolster his courage and finally made his way toward Allen.
At his height and with his appearance, Allen would have been the center of attention at the masquerade, but he was wearing a cloak. The dark hood concealed most of his stunning face, leaving only his eerie green eyes visible, glowing under the dim lights, captivating and drawing in his prey step by step.
“Hey…” Su Bin arrived in front of Allen and awkwardly said, his voice hoarse, “Are you alone?”
Allen gave a low “Mm” and clinked glasses with Su Bin. He took a small sip, but throughout it all, his gaze never left Su Bin’s masked face.
Under that intense gaze, Su Bin couldn’t stay calm. To mask his nervousness, he raised his glass again and drank it all in one go.
After downing three glasses, everything in his vision seemed to be wrapped in a warm haze. The tension and restraint faded, broken down by the alcohol, and his feelings grew, desperately searching for an outlet to spill over.
Leaving his empty glass on the bar, Su Bin gathered his courage, raised his hand, and gently tapped Allen’s chin.
Allen looked at him with a faint, amused smile but didn’t reject him.
That response encouraged Su Bin, and he moved closer.
Allen tilted his head, leaning in to whisper in Su Bin’s ear, “Little demon, what do you want to do with me?”
The warm breath brushed over Su Bin’s ear, causing him to shiver all over. Under the influence of the alcohol, he wrapped his arms around Allen, breath uneven, heart pounding like a drum. “I want you.”
“Hmm…” Allen let out a barely audible chuckle, still holding his glass, allowing Su Bin to cling to him.
Su Bin stared at him, confused, unsure whether Allen liked him or disliked him. Why did he not reject him, yet refuse to engage further?
After waiting for a moment, Allen didn’t get the next move he was expecting. Was it enough just to cling to him like this?
Amused, Allen placed his glass, still half full, on the bar and pulled Su Bin closer. He spoke softly, “So shy…” He tightened his embrace. “Is this your first time?”
Su Bin: “…”
In an instant, their bodies were pressed tightly together.
The familiar scent flooded Su Bin’s senses, and feeling the rhythm of Allen’s chest against his own, Su Bin nearly broke into tears, overwhelmed with emotion.
He couldn’t believe this wasn’t just a dream.
“Lance…” Su Bin murmured, lost in the moment, and instinctively stood on his toes to kiss his lover.
But the name made Allen, who had been immersed in their little game, suddenly freeze. He pushed Su Bin away, his playful expression replaced by a cold, intense glare, completely different from before.
With one hand gripping Su Bin’s shoulder and the other reaching for his mask, Su Bin panicked, dodging the movement. With a burst of strength he didn’t know he had, he broke free from Allen’s hold and dashed into the crowd.
Watching Su Bin disappear into the crowd, Allen narrowed his eyes, his chilling gaze revealing deep displeasure.
He quickly dialed Simon’s number and coldly instructed, “Find him. Follow him.”
Su Bin hid on the deserted balcony, letting the cold wind of late October brush across his face.
As he replayed the events that had just unfolded, he felt as though he had suddenly fallen from the clouds, plummeting into a freezing sea…
If he hadn’t accidentally called Allen “Lance,” would Allen have responded to him?
Probably not. Allen was always so composed. That cruel man must have just been playing with him… It was his fault for drinking too much, getting carried away with delusions, and fantasizing.
A couple of tears welled up in the corner of Su Bin’s eyes, trailing down his still-damp cheeks. The combination of alcohol and chili sauce churned in his stomach, making him feel nauseous.
Stumbling towards the restroom, he clung to the toilet and vomited violently, but the overwhelming drunkenness only deepened, refusing to dissipate.
Slumping to the floor, disoriented and unclear of how much time had passed, he felt someone tugging at him. A strange scent filled his nose. Immediately on guard, Su Bin kicked and punched wildly, but the person’s strength was overwhelming, easily seizing his arm.
Su Bin screamed in panic, “Who are you?! Let go of me! I’ll tell you! Boss Jin is my brother! If you do anything to me, you’ll regret it!”
Simon, who had been struck by several wild blows, stared at him in silence.
Ten minutes later, Su Bin was thrown into the backseat of a Bentley.
“He’s drunk,” Simon said with a blank expression.
The car door shut, and darkness enveloped the interior. Perhaps because of the familiar scent that calmed him, Su Bin finally quieted down. He shook his sore wrist and, in the dark, fumbled toward the warm body beside him. Following the scent, he called out “Allen,” instinctively clinging to him.
Allen: “…”
The secluded space inside the car seemed to give Su Bin a sense of security. He straddled Allen’s lap, becoming more forward than he had been at the party. Wrapping his arms around Allen’s neck, he called out again, “Allen…”
“…Mm.” This time, Allen responded almost instinctively, no longer withholding his reaction.
Su Bin sighed in relief. Finally, he was with the Allen from his dreams. He would answer him; he wouldn’t push him away. “Don’t leave me…” Su Bin’s voice broke as he spoke.
Hearing the near-plea in his voice, Allen stiffened…
He raised his hand and gently removed Su Bin’s mask. This time, the other person didn’t resist.
Beneath the mask was a delicate, dazed face, one that didn’t seem unfamiliar to him.
Since Su Bin had gone to buy the suit, Allen had been monitoring his every move. He had pretended not to recognize him earlier, waiting for him to approach, to strike up a conversation, and gradually lure him into revealing his intentions…
He had said he wanted him.
Heh, not many people dared to say that to him, and fewer still had the opportunity. But when Su Bin said those words, they stirred something deep within Allen, something long dormant.
He liked the look in this person’s eyes—an unreserved adoration, a willing submission. It gave him a strange, indescribable pleasure.
Allen admitted, this person was exactly to his liking.
If he were someone sent by Hal and the others, Allen wouldn’t mind playing along with their schemes, having some fun with the kid.
But he wasn’t. Simon had investigated, and Su Bin had no connections to any of them. There had been no prior interactions…
But just now, Su Bin had called him “Lance”… How did he know that name?
His fingertips unconsciously brushed the tear stains on Su Bin’s face. A warm electric current coursed through his body, and deep within Allen, an unfamiliar desire began to stir.
His expression darkened as his hand slid down, gripping Su Bin’s chin. He lowered his voice, “Who are you?”
Su Bin seemed not to hear the question. He gazed at Allen, his eyes full of longing, his expression almost heartbreaking. After a long silence, he finally murmured, “I promised you… we live and die together… so… don’t leave me alone…”